﻿Now in its 33rd year, Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) Radio 4’s annual project, ‘Top 10 Music Headlines’ reviews important local music happenings that are influential on the cultural and academic development in Hong Kong of the past year.

Results of the ‘2018 Top 10 Music Headlines’ were unveiled earlier this month.

This year, a shortlist of 21 items of music news was nominated by music practitioners, critics and cultural news editors. These items were selected based on their influence on cultural and academic development in Hong Kong.

Listeners were then invited to vote online or complete a postal vote application form. Voting by the public accounted for 60% of the total and by professionals, 40%.

During the three-week polling period from December 24 to January 13, a total of 1,106 votes were received.

Among the 21 nominations, news on “The HK Sinfonietta announces that the 2019/2020 season will be Yip Wing-sie's final season as Music Director of the Orchestra. To date, she has been in the post for 16 years and will stay on as Conductor Emeritus of the Orchestra from 2020” tops the list with 52.6% of votes.

Yip Wing-sie said in an interview that she was very happy to have the chance to work with a group of dedicated musicians, very capable administrators and a very supportive board of directors. She will continue to support this very own orchestra from Hong Kong.

Other notable music headlines include: “The HK Phil sells tickets for the additional performance of ‘Joe Hisaishi in Concert’ through a ticket ballot and real-name ticketing system. It is the first organization in the local arts scene to take an unprecedented measure to prevent touting” and “The Central Police Station compound is revitalized and opened to the public as Tai Kwun. On a 13,600 square-metre site, it comprises 16 historic buildings, outdoor spaces and a new art gallery and auditorium, to provide more art space for Hong Kong”. These rank second and third with 49.8% and 47.7% of votes respectively.